The Vengeful One staggered to his feet as TANT glared at him with contempt. Slowly, he regained his strength, a dark smirk forming on his face.

"Patience, little heroes," he rasped, his voice dripping with mockery, sending a shiver through the group. "The shadows conceal truths best left untouched—secrets that crave the silence of forgotten lore."

Ryan, ever the stoic, stepped forward, his gaze unflinching. "Enough with the theatrics. Just take us there."

A flicker of uncertainty passed over Thomas' face, mirrored by the apprehension in the others. "And what? You expect us to just magically waltz into this creepy library?" Thomas asked, doubt lacing his words.

The Vengeful One's smile stretched wider, revealing pointed fangs. "Choice is yours," he hissed, the shadows swirling around him, thick and oppressive. "Embrace the shadows, take hold of me, and delve into the forbidden. Or stay here, in ignorance, while darkness devours your world."

A thick silence fell over the group as they weighed the choice before them. Time seemed to slow, each passing second adding to the gravity of their decision. Could they trust the Vengeful One and venture into the unknown? Or stay behind, clinging to the fading light as darkness closed in?

"Ugh... you're such a creep," Emily muttered under her breath.

Reluctantly, the group grabbed onto the Vengeful One, though Emily opted to hold on to Ryan instead, seeking safety. In an instant, the world dissolved into shadows, swirling around them before materializing into a vast, dimly lit room. Rows upon rows of towering shelves stretched into the darkness, packed with books, documents, and articles, each one eager to reveal forbidden secrets.

As they fanned out to explore the cryptic contents, frustration grew. Everything they found was either unintelligible, irrelevant, or written in an alien language. Then, from the top of a shelf, a figure in a black and white suit appeared, casually dropping a folder labeled "CONFIDENTIAL" onto Yosef's head, breaking the eerie silence.

Yosef picked it up, its contents heavy with significance. Glancing up, he caught sight of the mysterious figure. His heart raced as he opened the folder, the pieces of a vast puzzle snapping into place with each word. His gasp broke the stillness.

"What does it say?" Thomas asked, urgency coloring his voice.

Yosef's eyes gleamed with realization. "The conspiracy," he began, his voice tight with excitement. "It all points to Tenebris Lunae—the Dark Moon cult."

A stunned silence followed. "How widespread?" Emily asked, her voice trembling between confusion and fear.

Yosef pieced it together aloud. "Their magic—'Inanis Art'—it's shadow magic. Moonshine Inc., the Umbrìo cartel—they're all fronts, puppets controlled by the cult. It's all leading to the creation of a global state controlled by a cyborg army led by an artificial intelligence called 'Codename Destiny.' South America is their hub for human experimentation, with the largest base in North Peru—Base 42."

The weight of the revelation settled over them, the scope of the conspiracy far beyond what they had imagined. But with the truth exposed, their resolve hardened. They had to dismantle this dark network, no matter the cost. They had nothing to lose—everything to gain.

Yosef's final words, however, dampened the charged atmosphere. "...We have two years before it all comes to a head."

Emily, ever the unsatisfied, grumbled, "This is worse than history class."

"Emily, seriously, why are you like this?" Ryan snapped, frustration seeping into his voice.

"Come on, what did I say about being considerate?" she shot back, her temper flaring.

Yosef stepped in, cutting off the bickering. "Focus, guys. We need to decide—do we wait the two years, or do we act now?"

Ryan sighed. "We wait. There's no way our parents let us go off on some unsupervised mission."

"Yeah! Two years is plenty of time to train and prepare!" Isaac chimed in, his voice full of optimism.

"Maybe we even find new allies," added Thomas, his excitement growing.

Yosef nodded. "Exactly. We use this time wisely."

Emily crossed her arms, impatient. "So, are we done?"

Yosef gave the signal to the Vengeful One. "Yeah, that's it. Let's get out of here."

The silence after the revelation was broken by Yosef's suggestion. "How about we make this official? Regular meetings, training weekends—the whole hero gig?"

Thomas raised an eyebrow. "Sure, but where do we even meet?"

Yosef shrugged. "Here? It's not glamorous, but it works."

Emily scoffed, unable to hide her unease. "Here? Seriously? Can't we pick somewhere... less parking lot, more secret lair?"

Yosef chuckled. "Hey, don't knock it. We can brainstorm cooler hideouts later. For now, practicality wins."

Ryan, ever the early riser, piped up. "Early mornings? Maximize efficiency."

Emily groaned. "Sunrise heroics? No thanks."

Isaac, the mediator, cut in. "Focus! How do we even train for... Peru?"

Yosef's eyes lit up. "Sparring, teamwork drills, strategy. Basically, hero boot camp—minus the costumes and excellent grade equipment."

Ryan nodded, excitement flickering through his stoic demeanor. "I'm in."

Yosef glanced around, meeting everyone's gaze, lingering on Emily's hesitant expression. "Anyone against it?"

Silence. Determined looks passed between them, a promise forming in that quiet moment. They would train, prepare, and face whatever darkness awaited them in Peru.